According to a survey conducted by the consulting firm EY, nearly a quarter of respondents prefer to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) rather than seeing a doctor. The findings come from the global “AI Sentiment Index 2026 – Focus Topic Wellbeing”. EY surveyed approximately 18,000 people across 23 countries worldwide, including 1,000 participants in Germany.
In Germany, the survey revealed that half of those polled (54 percent) had used relevant applications in recent months. Specifically, nearly one in four respondents (23 percent) reported using AI applications in the past six months to quickly access health information without needing a doctor’s appointment. One-fifth of the respondents (20 percent) used tools like the chatbot ChatGPT to analyze their own symptoms. Furthermore, many German participants utilized the technology for mental health support; 14 percent reported using such tools for conversations about their well-being and trusting the programs. Another 10 percent used AI to understand the instructions provided in medication leaflets.
When comparing Germany to other nations, EY found that the usage of AI for health-related questions in Germany is less pronounced than in other countries. The global average usage stands at 62 percent. India and China showed the highest rates of medical inquiry usage, at 90 percent and 89 percent, respectively, while Japan recorded the lowest participation at 42 percent.
However, the survey also indicated that many Germans lack a deeper understanding of AI. Although the majority of participants in Germany use AI for health queries, only slightly more than a quarter of them (28 percent) said they understood Artificial Intelligence well enough to use it meaningfully. This figure falls below the international average of 34 percent. In contrast, India (67 percent) and Saudi Arabia (48 percent) reported having the highest perceived understanding of AI. Japan (15 percent) alongside Germany, China, and Sweden (all at 28 percent) were among the countries with the lowest reported AI comprehension.
Regarding preventative care and health screenings, German residents showed a high degree of openness towards AI. Almost half of the respondents (46 percent) consider the technology useful for automatically scheduling check-ups, preventative examinations, or doctor appointments. More than a third of the participants (37 percent) see value in analyzing genetic data to predict risks for specific diseases. Similarly, 34 percent view AI as helpful in the prognosis or early detection of illnesses before they fully manifest.
